Tourist Arrivals Dip in March but Annual Figures Show Steady Growth

The Maldives welcomed over 108,000 tourists in the first three weeks of March, according to new data from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. While this marks a 17.9 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2025, the year-to-date total shows a resilient industry, with 590,449 arrivals representing a 4.5 percent annual increase. China remains the top source market, contributing 89,443 visitors. Russia follows with 71,056 tourists, and the United Kingdom ranks third with 55,692 arrivals. The daily average of tourist arrivals has rebounded to 7,381 after dropping to around 4,000 in recent weeks. The earlier decline was attributed to flight disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict, a route that typically accounts for 30 percent of all visitors. Officials credit proactive initiatives and work with airlines to secure alternative travel paths for successfully mitigating the impact and boosting figures. Looking ahead, the government is building on the momentum of 2025, when the country surpassed 2 million tourist arrivals. The target is to reach 2.5 million visitors by the end of 2026.